Before the Raging Lion

by Everly Frost

  President Vale said, “This is a very sad day. But it’s also a day of truth. Before we sentence Olander for the war crimes he’s committed, there are truths that need to be spoken aloud.”

  She gestured to Ember, who stood up and joined the President on the dais.

  President Vale attempted a smile, but her voice took on an edge. “This girl is not a weapon. Seversand has no mortality weapons. We never did. We tried, but never succeeded.”

  I’d expected uproar, but the room was quiet.

  I looked around to see that they were all too exhausted, many of them resting forward on their knees, others leaning back in their chairs, some swathed in blankets. Many were still recovering from the shock of being mortal. Mr. Bradley had said that the effects would wear off soon, but many of them were still affected.

  An older lady stood up. I recognized her as the Queen of Tenacia—the woman that Rift had saved.

  “I will gladly believe you. I want nothing more than for this threat to be over. But can you provide proof?”

  Mr. Bradley pushed his chair back. “I can. I’m not proud to say that I’m the creator of the mortality weapon. It was made possible by a particular gene…”

  He opened a device in his hand: a portable air screen showing a double helix. He flicked it into the air and it hovered for a moment before projecting the image in large scale for everyone to see. “This is Ava Holland’s DNA and you will see here the so-called death gene that makes a mortality weapon possible. This is Ember Rivera’s DNA and you will see that no such gene exists.”

  “You’re an Evereacher,” the woman said pointedly to Mr. Bradley. “Why should we believe what you say?”

  “If you want to verify the truth of my words, then I’m sure Ms. Rivera will agree to a blood test. But I have no reason to lie. My family was torn apart by the quest for a weapon that can kill. The only lab capable of producing the weapon was on the boats that sank off the coast. Olander planned to keep the weapon mobile—a navy to defeat all others. All I want … is for my family to be safe again.”

  “What does the angel say?”

  It took me a moment to realize that the Queen was talking to me.

  “Oh, I’m not…” I took a deep breath, allowed my wings out a little to emphasize my next point. I wasn’t sure if I could pull off ‘stern’ but I said, “If anyone ever tries to create a weapon like that again, I will deal with them.”

  The threat hung in the air.

  “And what of you?” Another man spoke, inclining his head in my direction. I recognized him as the Prime Minister of Credence, the far western islands.

  “Me?”

  Michael slipped his hand into mine.

  I said, “I’m going home.”

  After that, the discussion turned to Olander’s fate. It didn’t take long for them to sentence him to sleep. There was some talk about whether he should sleep in the Seversandian tomb, but ultimately it was decided that neutral territory was best: under a Starsgardian tower.

  He didn’t fight them as they led him away but he stared at me the whole time. There was a time when his presence was like poison to me, but not anymore.

  Theresa Watson spoke through the air screen. She cleared her throat, clasping her hands in front of her. “I have no right to ask, but Evereach is in a state of turmoil. I have the support of the High Justice and the other senior judges in our legal system, and we’re locating and charging all of the Bashers. But this process will take time. I ask for your patience while we bring the perpetrators of hate crimes to justice.”

  Ruth asked, “Do you intend to take over the Presidency?”

  “Only temporarily. Our democracy must prevail. I will call an election and if I win, then so be it. But I promise you, the Basher ideals will never take root in my country again.”

  Outside the room, Aaron caught up with me. He didn’t stare at my wings like everyone else did. “Ava, I’m going back to help Sarah’s mom. And Sarah. It’s going to be a long road and not an easy one. But we have to try.”

  I smiled at him. “Thank you, Aaron. I can only wish you luck.”

  “Ava…” He scuffed his boot against the pavement. “I’m sorry I lost my way.”

  “We all did. The important thing is that we found our way back.”

  He nodded. Without another word, he strode away down the corridor and I realized that I’d probably never see him again.

  Michael drew level with me. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes. No.” I sighed. “Walk with me?”

  We made our way to the tree and sat beneath its branches. He leaned against the trunk and I rested my head against his shoulder. The glass wall was still half-standing, but President Vale had promised to remove it and open up the place once more.

  I said, “You have a lot of family here.”

  “I have family in Starsgard, too.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to stay?”

  “I’m sure, Ava. My dad and mom have decided to live in Starsgard. It’s best after everything that’s happened. And now that the Starsgardian Council has pardoned him it’s…”

  “Neutral territory.” I smiled.

  Rift and Ember strolled toward us. Blaze and Quake overtook them. Their expressions were so solemn that I immediately stood up. “What’s wrong?”

  Quake took my hands in his and I marveled at the way my fingers were always dwarfed against his.

  “Ava…”

  “We need to find our families,” Blaze blurted. “Quake’s mom is here, but mine lives in the north. And our fathers, too. We promised to take you home, but we can’t come back with you yet.”

  “I know. I understand.” I smiled and despite telling myself not to cry, tears spilled down my cheeks.

  Blaze grinned. “They’re calling us the Guardians of the Tree. I think that even if we wanted to leave, they wouldn’t let us.”

  I nodded. “I know you have to stay.”

  “Ava, don’t cry. You’ll break my heart.”

  I swiped at my cheeks. “Blaze … I’ll miss you. All of you.”

  Rift and Ember hadn’t said anything to me yet, but I knew they weren’t coming to Starsgard either. I cleared my throat, wiping away my tears and willing them to stop.

  I sniffed and jumped to my feet. “Before I go, I have to know.”

  “Know what?” Blaze asked.

  “What Ember can do.” I grinned, placing my hand on a branch of the tree. A single leaf budded with a drop of nectar inside it. I carried it over to her.

  I said, “It’s time.”

  Ember bit her lip, eyeing the leaf. “I’m sort of scared. I heard you almost burned down a building.”

  “It wasn’t that bad. I mean … it was almost that bad. But don’t worry, you won’t hurt us and chances are you won’t have an aggressive power at all.”

  “I’m imagining some sort of voice thing,” Blaze said. “You know because Ember can sing.”

  “Or she’ll have speed like Snowboy,” I said. “She can run really fast already.”

  “Okay, okay.” Ember snatched the leaf from me and swallowed the droplet.

  In the next moment, she was gone.

  “I knew it,” I said. “She’s as fast as Snowboy.”

  Blaze looked around. “I wonder how far she’s gone.”

  Ember’s voice came from directly in front of me. “I haven’t gone anywhere. I’m right here.”

  I jumped backward. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, I’m serious. I haven’t moved. Why are you all looking around like that?”

  “Um … maybe look at your hands,” I suggested.

  “They look completely normal to me. Why? What do you see?”

  “That’s the thing. We don’t see anything at all. You’re not here.”

  Ember’s voice was cynical. “Really? You can’t see me? Not even now?”

  “Nope.”

  Her voice shifted position. “What about now?”

  “You’re definitely further away. I c
an hear it.”

  There was silence.

  Rift had been watching us with a grin on his face. He suddenly froze. A second later, he pressed his fingers to his lips.

  Ember said, “I’m liking this invisibility thing.”

  Rift growled. “I’d rather see your beautiful face. Especially if you’re going to kiss me like that.”

  There was another silence. Ember cleared her throat. “Okay, so what are the chances I can switch this off, because, like Rift said, he’d rather see me.”

  I laughed. “You’ll have to practice.”

  Michael had been quiet until then. He drew to his feet, brushing his hands across the leaves above us. Like me, he was memorizing this place. This moment.

  He took my hand and my laughter turned to tears. I drank in the happiness of my brothers, wishing I could save this moment forever: Rift’s smile and Ember’s outline, flitting in and out of view as she tried to make herself visible again, both of them ending up in a fit of laughter; Blaze slapping Rift on the back, and Quake pretending to fall over when Ember bumped into him.

  “I’m going to miss them.”

  “Me too.”

  Michael kissed me for the last time beneath the tree.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  WE ARRIVED in Starsgard after taking a slow journey west. Michael’s parents were like two people getting to know each other again and they needed as much time as they could get to work things out. Ruth sent word ahead so that Michael’s brother, Jason, could meet us at the border and I gave them all space to talk.

  Returning first to Tower Seventeen, my former home, I inhaled the mountain cold, yearning to be back at the northern tower. I couldn’t wait to see Snowboy and Pip, but there was something else I needed to do first.

  Beneath Tower Seventeen, I returned to the room of long sleep where my parents lay inside their glass coffins.

  Ruth had promised to wake them if the day ever came that I was truly safe. She stood beside me in the quiet room, her violet cloak a now-familiar sight. She didn’t tell me exactly which tower Olander slept under and I didn’t ask—all she said was that his tomb was like no other and he would never leave it.

  My wings drooped. I’d dreamed of being safe. Of waking my parents to tell them that the world had changed. That they had nothing to fear. It was as true then as it would ever be. My mortality was gone. All of the mortality weapons were destroyed. I couldn’t be used to hurt anyone ever again.

  “Are you ready, Ava?”

  “I’m ready.”

  Ruth opened both coffins and the scent of my mother’s perfume filled my lungs. I almost buckled under it. I held onto the side of the coffin, expecting to be able to brace against my wings, but something strange had happened.

  Ruth eyed my back. “Huh. Look at that.”

  I glanced back with a smile. “They disappear sometimes. They come back when I’m surprised or scared. Or when I want them to. But I’m still working on controlling them.”

  The side door opened and Michael stood in the opening, his family behind him with someone else I hadn’t seen for a very long time.

  “Surprised like now,” I whispered, aware that my wings had returned, reflecting the soft lighting and casting a glow around the room.

  Arachne ran to me, her dark hair bouncing. It was the most welcoming she’d ever been. “Ava! You’re alive!”

  She stopped short of hugging me, clearing her throat instead. “I’m glad to see you.”

  “You too, Arachne.”

  “We didn’t want you to be alone.”

  “Thank you.”

  “But we won’t crowd you either.”

  I nodded as she took her place at the side of the room. Michael and his family waited there, too. I wanted Michael beside me, but I knew it would be too much for my parents to take in.

  “Ruth?”

  She reached for my mother first, the antidote to the slumber plant in her hand. It was a yellow substance like pollen that she dusted over my mother’s nose.

  Mom sneezed.

  She sat up like nothing had happened, rubbing her nose with the sleeve of her cardigan only to sneeze again.

  “That’s the way.” Ruth rubbed her back. “Sneeze it out.”

  Mom blinked. “Ruth? But…” Her eyes found mine. “Ava?” The breath drew into her lungs with a cry. “Ava!”

  “Easy now,” Ruth cautioned, but mom wasn’t listening. She tumbled out of the coffin, trying to get to me. Her legs buckled, weak from lack of use, but I caught her.

  “Mom. We’re okay. It’s okay to wake up now.”

  She started to cry. “Oh, Ava.”

  I couldn’t stop the tears pouring down my cheeks.

  I was barely aware of my dad sneezing, too, until he shouted my name and launched himself out of the coffin. “My girl, you’re here. You’re safe!”

  I sank to the ground with them, sheltered inside their hugs, weeping until I had no more tears. Mom finally sniffled and whispered, “You have wings, sweetie.”

  I laughed through my tears. “There’s so much to tell you.”

  When my parents were ready to find their feet, I helped them upright, telling them to lean on my wings, because I was strong enough to support them both. They came to an abrupt halt as soon as they recognized Michael and his family. “Isn’t that…?”

  Ruth stepped quickly between them. “I know it’s already a lot to take in, but there’s something more. Will you come with me?”

  I didn’t know what she was talking about. Michael gave me a quiet smile. He definitely knew something I didn’t. “What is it?”

  He whispered. “Just … trust me.”

  “Always.” I supported my parents as they wobbled their way down the hall.

  Arachne was also puzzled. “Nobody told me anything,” she said, when I shot her a questioning look.

  Down the hallway, Ruth opened another door. Mr. Bradley, Jason, Helen, and Michael went in first. Ruth urged me to a halt. “Go slow, Ava. This will be a lot for your parents to take in.”

  She stepped aside while Arachne hung back.

  I glanced inside the room and then stopped my parents. “Arachne, I want you to go in first, okay?”

  She frowned, but said, “Sure.”

  I waited a moment as she disappeared inside, listening to the silence—and then her sobs.

  “Mom, Dad, nothing can prepare you for this. Just know that I’m here with you, okay?”

  I drew my parents inside.

  “Josh!” Mom tried to run but her legs wouldn’t carry her. Dad reached out and almost fell forward. I supported them both to the side of the pallet where Arachne had collapsed, clinging to Josh’s hand. The machines above his bed beeped and whirred.

  Ruth said, “After you left for Seversand, we couldn’t take any chances. We got him out straight away.”

  “Thank you, Ruth.”

  She nodded and retreated to the side of the room.

  Mom clasped Josh’s arm, fresh tears falling from her eyes. “He’s not alive, is he?”

  “No, mom.”

  “Ah.” Dad covered his mouth with his hand, reaching for Josh’s shoulder. “Our son.”

  His voice broke and their grief was too much. They’d lived through his death, only to have to watch him die again. I left them beside his bed, retreating to the shadows. I’d known this day would come, but I wasn’t prepared for it. Michael’s arms brought me back to the present. His hands stroked my back and hair, trying to soothe me.

  I cried. “How can I ask them to turn off these machines?”

  He pulled me close, his voice a soft rumble. “Maybe you don’t have to… After you didn’t eat the apple and then you died, I realized why it was given to me.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “It wasn’t about immortality. It was about redemption.”

  He reached into his satchel and pulled out a small cocoon. “During the battle, I asked Rift to put this in a safe place so it wasn’t damaged or stolen. Then
, after the fight, Dad helped me keep it safe on the journey here.”

  Inside the cocoon was an object wrapped in paper. The paper rustled as Michael withdrew the perfect, red apple.

  My lips parted. “You think…”

  “I want to try. But I don’t want to cause your family any more grief from false hope, so I’m not going to tell them, okay?”

  I answered him by drawing him around the edge of the room, past the pallet and to the other side. I caught Mr. Bradley’s eye as we moved. He gave me a smile, a hopeful glance.

  I held on to the hope rising inside me.

  Michael placed the cocoon on the floor. I didn’t try to touch the apple, because it was only his to give.

  He frowned at it for a moment. “I’m not sure…” But then the corner of his mouth turned up into a smile. “The usual way.”

  He pulled a knife from the cocoon, smiling to his dad across the distance and deftly cut a slice out of the apple.

  Although we called it an ‘apple,’ it was very different on the inside. Orange pulp oozed from the cut, immediately forming a thick liquid that ran down Michael’s hand.

  As quickly as he could, he held his hand over Josh’s lips, trickling the liquid between them.

  Arachne was the first to notice. “What is that?”

  “Um … a medical plant,” I said, knowing the truth would take much longer.

  She sat up. “Will it work?”

  I shook my head. I didn’t know. He needed to swallow, but that seemed impossible. Unless…

  I’d halted an entire army, slowed it down. I’d controlled their movements for long enough to turn the tide of war. I’d done it in the heat of the moment, without thinking, but this … this would take everything I had.

  I placed one hand on Josh’s heart and another against his cheek, picturing his mouth smiling and his voice speaking.

  Then I ran my hand down the side of his neck. I sensed through his skin and beneath the surface, picturing the muscle and sinew, the parts of his throat that needed to move.

  “C’mon, Josh. Please.”

  I ran my hand down his neck again, imagining his throat shifting like it needed to, imagining the liquid following my hand.